I'm thirteen and I've just got a merit in my grade six piano this term, which I am quite pleased with although I know if I improve scales it could have been a distinction. I've started looking at the grade seven pieces from the syllabus that runs out at the end of this year, and I've also looked at the new syllabus. I was planning to take my G7 next summer with the new syllabus, but I much prefer the pieces on the old syllabus. I don't particuarly want to have an exam in the summer term because I have my year nine SATs, but I will have 2 grade six exams (violin and alto saxophone) in the spring term. If I want to do my G7 piano on the old syllabus, that means I will have to do it either at christmas (out of the question) or in the spring term. So I'm in a bit of a muddle. Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm... Have you tried playing any of the G7 pieces? You might find some on the new syllabus that you don't like the sound of that much but might really enjoy playing, if that makes sense?

Otherwise, is there any chance you could shift one of your other exams (violin/sax) either to summer or chrsitmas this year, and do piano in spring 2009?

Just some thoughts

What does your teacher think?
Unless you were already somewhat above grade 6 standard generally when you took your grade 6 exam it might be better to work towards grade 7 standard before looking at grade 7 pieces.
The exam syllabus is not the whole story, it's just a marker along the journey and back to back exams are likely to catch you out sometime unless you are specially gifted (which may be the case).
Another option could be to enjoy playing a varied repertoire without exams until you are ready for grade 8 then look at whichever is the relevant syllabus for that.
Do discuss it with your teacher.

Not much advice to your question, but I agree with the grade 7 pieces, I much much prefer the 2007/08 syllabus, like Octobre - Chant d'auttome, is just beautiful! As are most of the pieces in there.

Thanks PSL

P.s I have spelt the name of that piece wrong i know haha

Looking at things purely practically, it would seem to make sense to take piano Grade VII in the spring term of 2009: that way you can use the current (07/08) syllabus and avoid taking a music exam during your SATS. Judging by all the distinctions you have attained, and assuming you will be practising regularly during the summer holiday, I would have thought you could get to that level by next March. However, as I'm sure your teacher will advise, don't just practise Grade VII exam pieces from now until next spring.

Also, as Babybird2 said, could you move one of your other practical exams?

Do you have to actually take G7? I mean, you could work on the old syllabus pieces you like, as if towards doing the exam, and then not actually take it. That way you don't have the stress of having to be 'ready' at the same time as a zillion other things.

Yeah, I've learned one from each list actually. Willie Wagglestick, Octobre, and the Beethoven. I can play them but I need to work on quality and stuff. I haven't skipped a piano exam before and I don't want a gap in my records, and my teacher has just told me about UCAS points. I don't really understand but I know it's good to have done all the higher grades before applying to university. But yours is a good suggestion. I will ask my teacher what she thinks and I suppose I could always do grade seven after grade eight when it seems like a breeze...

Personally, I would rather do SATs plus one music exam than three grade 6+ exams in the same term. Its also worth noting that the SATs aren't hugely important and would most likely be significantly before your piano exam.

You only get UCAS points for the highest grade exam in each instrument, so you get the same for grade 8, whether or not you've done 6 and 7. Also, it's worth bearing in mind that most universities don't count music exam ucas points anyway.

It's extremely unlikely, but say you took the exam in the spring term and failed, then you would have to learn a whole set of new pieces if you wanted to re-take it. I would go for the new sylabus, then you can still do it in the Spring, but don't have to if you don't really feel ready for it after christmas.

I have just put two of my pupils through the Grade 7 current pieces and the scales and arpeggios were a lot of work, even for my adult pupil who already knew her scales very well. She got 128 overall only because she put in an enormous amount of work into the detail of interpretation, expression and deep understanding of her pieces. My other (teenage) pupil passed and needed more time and attention to detail to get a higher mark.

On both reports the examiner suggested in the comment box (after saying well done for passing) that they should now take time to explore lots of repertoire before moving on to Grade 8. I would say the same between Grades 6/7. There is quite a jump between the two grades I think.

ELLEAnothepiano

Congratulations on your merit at grade 6, that's a fine result especially for a thirteen year-old

I know your dilemma well, as I found myself in exactly the same position with Grade 7 the last time the syllabus changed. I was keen on taking the exam with the 'old' syllabus as I had worked hard on learning the pieces I liked the best, while my teacher suggested I was better off learning three pieces from the 'new' syllabus as well, in case I should be unable to take the exam in the last available period (Spring) or if I failed. As it turned out, it all worked out well and I passed with the old pieces.

But my circumstances are different to yours, in that I do not have SATs, other instrumental exams looming, etc etc etc. Speak to your teacher about your feelings on how things are progressing, then together you can plan out your options.

Just to reiterate Sarah123's point about UCAs points, she is absolutely right - you can only gain 'credit' in terms of UCAS points for the HIGHEST grade (6 and above) which you have passed in each 'subject'. So if you pass Grade 8 piano (which I am sure you will), it makes no difference whether or not you have also passed Grades 6 and/or 7 in piano. The same applies to violin - so a pass at Grade 8 violin counts in addition to piano in UCAS points terms, but if you have Grade 8 violin, then Grade 6 & 7 violin do not.

In my case, I have grade 8 violin (merit) so I get credit for that, but the fact that I never took grades 6 or 7 makes no difference. However, my grade 8 in piano (if/when I get it...) counts too...

These UCAS points may or may not be accepted by Universities, as Sarah123 said, but I believe they can be accepted at most institutions as a substitute for A Level Music, if you do not / are not able to take this. Most university music departments will accept applicants, even if they do not have A level Music, if they have passed exams in an instrument/voice and Theory of Music, both at Grade 8, before they start their degree.

Hope that makes it clear as mud

denmark

This is only relevant if you are applying for a music degree: it's an alternative prerequisite for the courses. All music exams are good for for other subjects is to show you are a well-rounded person, they can't be used to fulfill an offer as far as I know (If you have an offer of three As, but get AAB, they won't suddenly accept you because you have grade 8 distinction).

Thank you for telling me about the UCAS points. I understand that a lot better now. I might move one of my other exams to the summer term anyway, although I might be ready for my violin exam at christmas.
So am I right that if I missed grade seven out but did grade eight that wouldn't affect how many points I had?

you would get the same points.

Grade 8 is the same as grade 7, just more difficult, so if you have grade 8, you should be able to pass grade 7 no problem, so the fact that you have passed grade 7 (or any other lower grades) becomes irrelevant once you have grade 8.

What is the rush to take the next grade? What matters more is improving as a pianist and musician. You will probably be at school until you are 18, so that is five more years. That is plenty of time to take grade 8 before you leave (with or without grade 7 along the way) - and maybe the first level diploma (DipABRSM or equivalent) as well.

SATs may be stressful and time consuming but in the big world outside school (USA excepted) they are meaningless.

So far as school exams are concerned the only ones most organizations will care about when you move on from school are your GCSEs and A/S levels.

Specialist qualification like musical grades may be important or irrelevant, depending on the field you are going on to study or work in, and the type of college or company that you will be joining (some like their people to be broadly educated, some just want to see that you excel in whatever you are going to be doing for them)

But understanding music, and playing it well, are skills for life.

You sound pretty smart. I am sure you'll work things out.

Agreed and if you have been awake for 13/14 years by the time the SATs come around you should do fine.

I wouldn't worry about SATS in the same term, they are as others have said pretty meaningless. I took my grade 8 piano in the same term as my As's and got a high merit. I took 5 As's. If its something you want to do, Doing exams in the same term isnt a problem

I agree - I did music exams at the same time as my degree and as others have said, if you want to do it, the exams don't really get in the way of each other.

If it helps, this is me playing a grade seven piece.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZT0CrrVbjs
I know it is pretty terrible tbh but I know what to work on and I want to know if people think it has the potential to be good? thanks.

Okay.. well being your age, I kinda understand how you feel
Tbh, the SATs shouldn't be too bad. (I'm guessing) you only really practise piano about an hour, maybe a bit less, a day? It doesn't really eat into revision time.. I don't know how you find schoolwork, but I don't think the SATs take too much time and effort.. Ok I've just realised you play 2 other instruments .. Maybe you could make a timetable for yourself.. which instruments to practice on what day?

As for your piece.. Willie Wagglestick's Walkabout.. I played that it's fun to play! weird title
I'd say you should slow down a bit, and focus on accuracy, especially your left hand. Slow practice is the key. (: Make sure you hit all the right notes, then start speeding it back up. Not too fast though, in the end, I don't think I played mine as fast as you are now! And get the feel of the swing.. if you get me

If I was you, I would take the exam in the summer, (alongside the SATs.)
In the upcoming weeks before my Piano Grade 8, I had orchestra rehearsals practically every day for hours, for this concert, which was on the day of my exam. And the SATs can't be too much worse so I'm sure you'd do fine!